Parlays are popular because they let bettors combine multiple selections into a single, higher-return ticket. That appeal also raises common questions about what happens when one of the included selections does not produce a clear win. This guide explains how parlay legs are defined, how sportsbooks usually treat losing, pushed, voided, and postponed legs, and what a bettor can do to reduce surprises. We focus on typical U.S. sportsbook conventions and operator house rules as the governing source for settlement. Where helpful, the article points to rule documents so you can check the specifics that apply to your account and market.

Under standard U.S. rules, a single losing selection usually makes the whole parlay lose.

Pushes and voids are commonly removed and the parlay is recalculated on remaining legs.

Cash-out settles a parlay early; once accepted, remaining legs no longer affect the payout.

Quick answer: does every parlay leg have to win?

Short definition: a parlay leg is a single selection within a multi-selection wager, and under standard U.S. sportsbook house rules a parlay normally only pays if every included parlay leg wins, with a single losing selection grading the whole ticket as a loss Sportsbook Rules .

Quick pre-bet checklist to verify parlay settlement rules

Verify parlay rules
Check postponement window
Confirm cash-out availability

Screenshot or save the rules before betting

Exceptions do exist, including pushes and voids that are removed from the calculation, postponements handled under operator-defined time windows, and discretionary cash-out offers that settle bets early; the sections below explain each case and how they change outcomes House Rules .

What is a parlay leg and how sportsbooks define parlays

Definition of a parlay leg: a parlay leg is an individual selection inside a combined wager, such as one game point spread, moneyline, or totals pick that forms part of the larger bet; sportsbooks describe parlays as bets where multiple selections are linked and the payout depends on those selections resolving as specified Sportsbook Rules .

How parlays are settled: operator house rules typically state that a parlay requires all included legs to win to return the full parlay payout, and help pages or rules sections are the authoritative place to confirm the exact wording and any market-specific variations General Betting Rules . For a general explainer on parlays see the FanDuel guide What is a Parlay Bet?.

If one leg loses: how sportsbooks usually grade the whole parlay

Standard outcome: in the common U.S. sportsbook model, if a single leg loses the entire parlay is graded as a loss, because parlays are structured to pay only when every selection meets its winning condition Sportsbook Rules .

Check parlay rules on the FundedPlays Challenges page

Before placing parlays, review the sportsbook's parlay rules now to confirm how they treat single losses, pushes, and postponements.

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Caveat and operator variation: although the single-loss treatment is the usual default at major operators, individual house rules and jurisdictional differences can change how edge cases are handled, so always verify the current rules that apply to your account and market Nevada Gaming Commission Regulation 22.

Pushes and voids: recalculation, single-bet settlement, and common examples

Difference between a push and a void: a push occurs when a selection finishes in a way that neither wins nor loses under the market terms, such as a point-spread result matching the line, while a void or no-action ruling happens when a market is canceled or a selection is ruled invalid for settlement; sportsbooks document these definitions in their rules Sports Rules .

Recalculation and single-bet settlement: when a leg is a push or void many operators remove that leg and recalculate the parlay on the remaining legs; if the removal leaves a single selection, that remaining selection is typically settled as a single bet rather than as a parlay, which changes both risk and potential payout Sportsbook Rules . Additional commentary on void handling can be found at ATS What Does Void Mean on FanDuel?.

Postponements, reschedules and operator-defined time windows

How delay rules commonly work: sportsbooks commonly define a time window within which a postponed event must start to remain part of a multi-selection bet; if the event is delayed beyond that operator-defined window many books treat the selection as void rather than a loss, and the parlay is recalculated without that leg General Betting Rules .

Do all legs of a parlay have to win?

Normally yes; standard U.S. sportsbook rules require every parlay leg to win for the parlay to pay, though pushes, voids, postponements, and cash-out options can change settlement based on operator rules.

When a postponed event is voided versus graded later: specific timelines and conditions differ by operator, so if you want to know whether a delayed game will be graded later or removed from a parlay you need to check that sportsbook's postponement and reschedule policy in its rules section House Rules .

Cash out and early settlement: what changes when you accept a cash-out

How cash-out offers work: a cash-out is an operator feature that lets a bettor accept an early settlement amount for a parlay while the event slate is still in progress; if you accept the offer the bet is settled at the displayed amount and remaining legs no longer affect the result Cash Out .

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Availability and discretion: cash-out availability is at the sportsbook's discretion and can vary by market, time, and account, so relying on a cash-out option to limit downside is uncertain unless the operator's interface shows the option at the moment you need it Cash Out . See the Funded Plays homepage for related information Funded Plays.

How parlay payouts are calculated and how pushes change returns

Close up of a mobile sports betting app parlay slip showing multiple legs with one parlay leg highlighted and a gold cash out button on a dark Funded Plays branded background

Multiplying odds for winning legs: the basic math behind a parlay payout is that the odds for each winning leg are multiplied together and then the stake is applied to that combined figure; sportsbooks describe the calculation method in their payout and rules explanations Sports Rules .

Effect of removed legs on payout size: when a push or void leg is removed the payout is recalculated using only the remaining winning legs, which reduces both the exposure and the potential return compared with the original full-leg parlay Sportsbook Rules .

Simple steps to calculate your own result: first, confirm which legs were graded as wins and which were removed as pushes or voids; second, multiply the decimal or American-equivalent odds of the winning selections together; third, apply your stake to that combined price to determine the settled payout; and finally, check the sportsbook's published example calculations if you want a direct comparison to its settled amount Sports Rules .

Practical scenarios and worked-through examples

Two-leg parlay with one push: if you place a two-leg parlay and one leg pushes, many sportsbooks remove the pushed leg and settle the bet as a single selection on the remaining leg; the remaining single selection is then paid or lost based on its own result rather than the original parlay terms Sportsbook Rules . See also the Action Network guide on what happens if a game pushes What Happens to My Parlay or SGP if One Leg Pushes?.

Explanation for that outcome: operators treat the push as a neutral result, so the parlay becomes the outcome of the remaining leg, which simplifies settlement and limits the bet to what actually produced a decisive result Sports Rules .

Three-leg parlay with a postponed game: imagine a three-leg ticket where one game is postponed beyond the operator's permitted window; in many cases the postponed leg will be voided and the parlay recalculated as a two-leg parlay, which changes the ticket's payout and the bettor's exposure General Betting Rules .

How the recalculation is applied: the remaining two legs are treated as the active parlay and the combined odds of those legs determine the settled payout; whether the postponed game is ruled void or held for later grading depends on the operator's postponement policy House Rules .

Scenario with early cash-out: if a parlay is in play and the operator offers a cash-out that you accept, the ticket is settled at that amount regardless of later results on remaining legs, which removes both further risk and any chance of a larger payout from the uncompleted selections Cash Out .

Why cash-out changes outcomes: accepting a cash-out converts an in-progress parlay into a settled amount agreed by you and the operator, so subsequent events have no effect on that settled result Cash Out .

A practical checklist before placing a parlay

Pre-bet verification steps: before you submit a parlay, verify the sportsbook's parlay rules, confirm the postponement and reschedule window that applies to your events, check whether cash-out is available and how pushes are treated in combined bets, and save or screenshot the relevant help pages for reference Nevada Gaming Commission Regulation 22. For related resources see the Funded Plays blog Funded Plays blog.

Minimalist 2D vector checklist showing steps to verify sportsbook house rules postponement windows and cash out availability for a parlay leg

Open the sportsbook's rules or help section and find the parlay policy
Check the postponement time window for your selected leagues
Confirm whether the operator removes pushes or voids and how they recalculate
Note whether cash-out is offered for the markets you plan to use
Screenshot the rule text for later reference

These quick checks reduce surprise outcomes and help you understand whether a pushed or postponed parlay leg will hurt or merely change your payout.

Common mistakes bettors make with parlay legs

Assuming postponed games equal losses: a frequent error is assuming a delayed event automatically becomes a losing selection, when many operators instead void a late-postponed game and recalculate the parlay; checking the sportsbook's postponement policy prevents this misunderstanding General Betting Rules .

Relying on cash-out availability and misreading pushes: bettors sometimes count on a cash-out option that may not appear, or they misunderstand how pushes are applied in multi-leg tickets, which can produce unexpected settlement results if they have not reviewed the operator's published rules Cash Out .

Special cases and advanced topics to watch for

Same-game parlays and correlated outcomes can have special settlement rules that differ from standard multi-event parlays; because markets that combine correlated outcomes or props may be governed by separate clauses in the rules, check the market-specific guidance rather than assuming the general parlay treatment applies.

League-specific provisions and the sportsbook's correlation rules can alter how two related legs are handled when one outcome affects another, so if you use advanced or same-game constructions review those help topics closely in the operator's rules.

Where to find and read sportsbook house rules and the regulator angle

How regulators require published rules: U.S. regulators typically require sportsbooks to publish and consistently apply their house rules, which means the help or rules pages on an operator's site are the authoritative source for how parlays, pushes, voids, and postponements are handled Nevada Gaming Commission Regulation 22.

Practical tips for locating the right rule text: search the sportsbook app or website for terms like parlay, void, push, postponement, and cash-out, and then save the relevant passages or take screenshots so you have the exact wording available if a disputed settlement arises General Betting Rules .

Conclusion: practical takeaways about parlay legs

Top takeaways: normally all legs must win for a parlay to pay out, but pushes and voided legs are typically removed and cash-out offers settle the ticket early at a displayed amount, so the actual outcome depends on how the operator applies its rules Sportsbook Rules .

Final advice: before placing parlays, check the sportsbook's published house rules, confirm postponement windows, and treat cash-out as discretionary rather than guaranteed; operator rules govern outcomes and responsible play means knowing those rules ahead of time Nevada Gaming Commission Regulation 22. For background on how Funded Plays evaluations work see how fundedplays evaluations work.

If one parlay leg is a push, does the entire parlay lose?

No. When a leg is a push most sportsbooks remove it and recalculate the parlay on the remaining legs; if only one selection remains it is usually settled as a single bet.

Will a postponed game always void my parlay leg?

Not always. Many operators void a leg if it is postponed beyond a specified time window, but policies vary so check the sportsbook's published postponement rules.

Does accepting a cash-out mean remaining legs no longer matter?

Yes. If you accept a cash-out the bet is settled at the displayed amount and subsequent results on remaining legs have no effect.

Knowing how individual parlay legs are treated removes much of the uncertainty when you create multi-leg tickets. Use the checklist in this guide and save the sportsbook's relevant rule text to protect yourself from unexpected outcomes. Responsible participation means understanding operator rules, treating cash-out as discretionary, and avoiding assumptions about postponed or voided legs.